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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/nov/11/lismore-divided-as-council-rejects-plan-to-build-temporary-homes-for-flood-survivors
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| Lismore divided as council rejects plan to build temporary homes for flood survivors | Lismore divided as council rejects plan to build temporary homes for flood survivors |
| (3 months later) | |
| One councillor accused of ‘fear-mongering and smears’ over comments about crisis accommodation residents as families worry about future | One councillor accused of ‘fear-mongering and smears’ over comments about crisis accommodation residents as families worry about future |
| A proposal by Resilience NSW to construct 40 modular homes for flood survivors on a sports field in the New South Wales northern rivers town of Lismore has been rejected by the local council, leaving the town divided. | A proposal by Resilience NSW to construct 40 modular homes for flood survivors on a sports field in the New South Wales northern rivers town of Lismore has been rejected by the local council, leaving the town divided. |
| The proposal had been scaled back after an initial plan was voted down by Lismore council two months ago, six votes to five. | The proposal had been scaled back after an initial plan was voted down by Lismore council two months ago, six votes to five. |
| In a heated debate on Tuesday, the councillor and boarding house manager Big Rob argued the proposed temporary housing in Hepburn Park would help people “who did not want to pay” to take advantage of taxpayer-funded housing, leaving available accommodation vacant. | In a heated debate on Tuesday, the councillor and boarding house manager Big Rob argued the proposed temporary housing in Hepburn Park would help people “who did not want to pay” to take advantage of taxpayer-funded housing, leaving available accommodation vacant. |
| “Let me tell you in these boarding house rooms that I manage, we don’t get told what someone’s history is. What happens is every now and then police come through and arrest someone for being a paedophile. So this is in a place with 40 rooms and now we’re going to put that right next to kids playing sport, kids’ childcare centres,” he told the council meeting. | “Let me tell you in these boarding house rooms that I manage, we don’t get told what someone’s history is. What happens is every now and then police come through and arrest someone for being a paedophile. So this is in a place with 40 rooms and now we’re going to put that right next to kids playing sport, kids’ childcare centres,” he told the council meeting. |
| The South Lismore local Marcus Bebb was on the shortlist for the accommodation. He said the decision would put increased pressure on his family as their emergency lease was coming to an end. | The South Lismore local Marcus Bebb was on the shortlist for the accommodation. He said the decision would put increased pressure on his family as their emergency lease was coming to an end. |
| “These accusations, and the other night, was shooting from the left hip, calling us all alcoholics, putting us in the same category as paedophiles and drug dealers, and which 99% of the community in South Lismore isn’t,” he said. | “These accusations, and the other night, was shooting from the left hip, calling us all alcoholics, putting us in the same category as paedophiles and drug dealers, and which 99% of the community in South Lismore isn’t,” he said. |
| “We are the working poor is the best way to put it.” | “We are the working poor is the best way to put it.” |
| This sentiment was echoed by local Em Stoddart, who has also spent considerable time in emergency accommodation. | This sentiment was echoed by local Em Stoddart, who has also spent considerable time in emergency accommodation. |
| “I’m completely employed, as is my partner, always paid taxes, never been in any sort of government assistance, never received any support from the government in my whole life,” she said. | “I’m completely employed, as is my partner, always paid taxes, never been in any sort of government assistance, never received any support from the government in my whole life,” she said. |
| “I don’t want a rent-free ride, I simply need a way to manage my finances.” | “I don’t want a rent-free ride, I simply need a way to manage my finances.” |
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| However, not all members of the community were opposed to Rob’s characterisation. Tracy Rollins, who had signed up her son to stay in one of the pods, said while the councillor’s words were “harsh” they weren’t “particularly untrue”. | However, not all members of the community were opposed to Rob’s characterisation. Tracy Rollins, who had signed up her son to stay in one of the pods, said while the councillor’s words were “harsh” they weren’t “particularly untrue”. |
| She said many of the people staying in crisis accomodation had made a “mockery” of the system. | She said many of the people staying in crisis accomodation had made a “mockery” of the system. |
| “There are people who have never paid rent – even before the floods – suddenly getting into housing and drinking all day. It’s not the best environment,” she said. | “There are people who have never paid rent – even before the floods – suddenly getting into housing and drinking all day. It’s not the best environment,” she said. |
| But the Greens councillor Adam Guise condemned Rob’s words, saying it was “disgusting” that “fear-mongering and smears” could be used to achieve a vote. | But the Greens councillor Adam Guise condemned Rob’s words, saying it was “disgusting” that “fear-mongering and smears” could be used to achieve a vote. |
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| Rob told Guardian Australia he “of course did not believe all the residents to be drug dealers and alcoholics” but said he was merely reflecting on his experience as a community housing property manager. | Rob told Guardian Australia he “of course did not believe all the residents to be drug dealers and alcoholics” but said he was merely reflecting on his experience as a community housing property manager. |
| Amina Madeline, who runs a Facebook page called Pod villages for Lismore, accused Rob and fellow councillor Andrew Gordon – who also voted against the project – of “looking out for their own self-interests”. | Amina Madeline, who runs a Facebook page called Pod villages for Lismore, accused Rob and fellow councillor Andrew Gordon – who also voted against the project – of “looking out for their own self-interests”. |
| Gordon, who owns a real estate agency in Lismore, told the council meeting that properties he managed were struggling for tenants and suggested these properties be used to house flood victims instead. He said “the conflict of interest debate is the wafer-thin narrative from people who can’t provide solution themselves”. | Gordon, who owns a real estate agency in Lismore, told the council meeting that properties he managed were struggling for tenants and suggested these properties be used to house flood victims instead. He said “the conflict of interest debate is the wafer-thin narrative from people who can’t provide solution themselves”. |
| Both Rob and Gordon insisted that the primary reason for the proposal being rejected was a lack of information provided by Resilience NSW on who and how many people would be placed in the accommodation, what the impact of the site on the surrounding community would be, as well as security concerns over their existing temporary accommodations. | Both Rob and Gordon insisted that the primary reason for the proposal being rejected was a lack of information provided by Resilience NSW on who and how many people would be placed in the accommodation, what the impact of the site on the surrounding community would be, as well as security concerns over their existing temporary accommodations. |
| This was partly supported by Guise, who said he too had rejected the initial proposal on similar grounds, saying all the councillors had been “very vocal” in demanding more information from Resilience NSW. However, he said by rejecting the latest proposal the council had hindered the process of actually getting the information they sought. | This was partly supported by Guise, who said he too had rejected the initial proposal on similar grounds, saying all the councillors had been “very vocal” in demanding more information from Resilience NSW. However, he said by rejecting the latest proposal the council had hindered the process of actually getting the information they sought. |
| Resilience NSW was contacted for comment. | Resilience NSW was contacted for comment. |
| “Part of the resolution that we proposed, if the rescission had succeeded and the project went ahead, was to have Resilience NSW provide proper plans before going ahead,” Guise said. | “Part of the resolution that we proposed, if the rescission had succeeded and the project went ahead, was to have Resilience NSW provide proper plans before going ahead,” Guise said. |
| “But unfortunately we never got to the stage of formulating what we actually wanted from Resilience NSW.” | “But unfortunately we never got to the stage of formulating what we actually wanted from Resilience NSW.” |
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